Are You Prepared for a Weather Emergency? [PICS]

The summer season is a time for warm weather and fun outdoor activities. It is also prime time for severe weather threats.

Although summer has not officially begun, many states in the U.S. have already experienced severe storms, and they continue to deal with the devastating aftermath. The top three severe weather threats this time of year are thunderstorms, tornados, and hurricanes.

Reduce the impact of these weather threats by learning about these storms, assembling an emergency supply kit, and developing an emergency plan for your family and pets.

Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms may occur as single storms, in a cluster, or in lines. They are characterized by thunder, lightning, strong winds, heavy rain, and hail. Most thunderstorms produce heavy rain for a brief period, from 30 minutes to an hour, and wind speed can reach up to 100 miles per hour. Flash floods cause more fatalities than any other storm hazard and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.

Remember these tips to stay safe during and after a thunderstorm:

Stay indoors and keep pets indoors

Secure outdoor objects

Unplug electronic equipment

Stay away from windows and doors

Never drive through a flooded roadway

Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately

Tornados

A tornado is one of the most dangerous storms you could ever encounter. It is a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. A tornado strikes quickly, with little or no warning, and can cause fatalities and catastrophic damage in seconds. Funnel wind speeds reach up to 300 miles per hour. The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 miles per hour, but it can range from stationary to 70 mph.

Tornados hit quickly, so stay alert to changing weather conditions and create an evacuation or shelter plan. Look for danger signs including a dark, sometimes greenish sky, large hail, a large, dark, low-lying cloud, and a loud roar.

If you are in a residence, small building, school, hospital, or multi-level building:

Go to a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level

Put as many walls as possible between you and outside; go to the center of an interior room or hallway

Get under a sturdy table and protect your head and neck

Put on sturdy shoes

If you are in a trailer or mobile home:

Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

If you are outside with no shelter:

Get inside a vehicle, buckle your seat belt, and drive to the closest shelter

Stay aware of flying debris

Pull over and park if vehicle is hit by flying debris; stay in vehicle with seatbelt on

Do not park under an overpass or bridge

Never try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle in urban or congested areas

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are tropical storms or cyclones originating in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and eastern Pacific Ocean. Wind speeds can surpass 155 miles per hour and sometimes produce tornadoes and storm surges. The heavy rainfall from a hurricane can also trigger landslides, mud slides, or flash floods.

The Atlantic hurricane season is from June to late November, with the peak season from mid August to late October. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season is from mid May to late November.

Follow these tips to stay safe during a hurricane:

Learn evacuation routes

Cover your home’s windows with storm shutters or plywood

Reinforce garage doors and secure outdoor objects

Turn off propane tanks

Stay indoors and away from windows and glass doors

Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level

Avoid elevators if you are in a multi-level building

Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges

Stay away from downed or dangling power lines and report them immediately

Emergency Preparedness

If severe weather strikes your area, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity. Keep a stocked emergency supply kit to help you cope with a disaster whether or not you are at home.

Store at least a three-day supply of food and water per person for evacuation scenarios and a two-week supply of food and water per person for staying at home. Make sure any special needs of all household members are covered, including infants, seniors, and pets.

Assemble the following items in easy-to-carry containers for use at home, office, school, and in a vehicle. You can also purchase pre-assembled kits like the one pictured above.